Chapter 35
Lang Shuo came of age this year, and the thing Lang Yu worried about most was the matter of finding a partner.
At first, beastmen on the Beast God Continent only had two sexes: female and male. Later, some male beastmen evolved into sub-beastmen. Sub-beastmen did not look very different from male beastmen, but they were more intelligent, and like female beastmen, they had the ability to give birth to cubs.
Most sub-beastmen were more slender and weaker than male beastmen, but this was not absolute. A beastman’s build was related to nutrition, their parents’ physical condition, and other factors. Therefore, male beastmen and sub-beastmen were not distinguished by body size, but by the totem on a sub-beastman’s body.
When a sub-beastman first transformed into human form, a beast-form totem would naturally appear at the collarbone, lasting for about one day before disappearing. It would only slowly reappear after adulthood.
When Lang Shuo first transformed into human form, Lang Yu was already a sensible half-grown child. He knew very clearly that his younger brother was a sub-beastman.
The cubs in the tribe were raised together regardless of sex. Before the sub-adult stage, cubs of the same age basically stayed together. But once they reached the sub-adult stage, there were many more things to pay attention to.
Sub-adults already possessed reproductive ability, but because their minds were not mature enough, most tribes did not allow beastmen of this age to seek partners. During breeding season, influenced by climate and environment, sub-adults would become even more restless, regardless of sex. Therefore, tribes generally did not let sub-adults run around.
Lang Shuo had come of age this year, but in Lang Yu’s eyes, his younger brother was still too young. After snow season ended, Lang Yu became extremely cautious, worried that some male wolf might set his eyes on Lang Shuo. Males were capable of doing anything in order to court a partner, so Lang Yu had to guard against it.
Fortunately, Lang Shuo threw all his attention into planting, not sparing even a glance for the few young males in the tribe who had courtship intentions. When Lang Yu was by Lang Shuo’s side, those young males did not dare act recklessly. Lang Yu specifically hid and observed several times, and discovered that as long as a young male approached Lang Shuo without any proper reason, Lang Shuo would assign him work.
After observing a few times, Lang Yu felt reassured.
Only now did Lang Yu realize he had relaxed too early. Even though Lang Shuo’s attitude was very clear, he still found the sub-adults around Lang Shuo unpleasant to look at.
Sub-adults included males, females, and sub-beastmen. Sub-adults of the same tribe were generally similar in personality, but there were subtle differences. If carefully distinguished, one could still tell them apart. Sub-adult males were more flamboyant and more irritable. The ones who usually stuck their heads out and stirred up trouble were all them. Sub-adult sub-beastmen and sub-adult females were comparatively quieter. Some sub-beastmen and female beastmen were not used to staying in a group with impulsive sub-adult males and joined the gathering team early.
And now, among the sub-adult black wolves surrounding Lang Shuo, most were male, while there were only a few sub-beastmen and females.
Seeing such a scene, Lang Yu even found the Black Wolf Tribe chief, who had not appeared here, unpleasant. As a chief, how did he manage his tribe? He actually let so many sub-adults appear in another tribe.
If their tribe members had tempers as irritable as the lion race, tiger race, or other wolf races, these sub-adults would already have been beaten by now. Was the Black Wolf Tribe really that at ease?
Lang Yu wanted to act now too, but his gaze paused on his younger brother and the group of cubs, and he abandoned the idea. He did not want to fight anyone. That would scare his younger brother. In the end, Lang Yu chose to separate them first.
Walking to Lang Shuo’s side, Lang Yu opened his mouth and interrupted the sub-adults who wanted Lang Shuo to give them a little more food. “After eating, go work.”
Since they had entered their tribe’s territory, they had to follow their tribe’s rules. There was no such thing as eating for free. After eating, they had to work.
Seeing his brother, Lang Shuo was a little happy. He pointed at the food beside them. “Brother, you all eat first. Don’t mind them.”
This group of sub-adults was only taking the opportunity to act spoiled. They understood that the remaining food had all been left for the hunting party.
Lang Yu answered, and only after all the sub-adults had gone to work did he walk to the other side to get food.
The food of the entire tribe was the same. The difference was that the hunting party’s portion was larger than other members’, since they consumed the most physical strength. Next was the gathering team. If a tribe did not have enough food, it would first supply the hunting party and gathering team to ensure the health of young beastmen as much as possible.
At present, the Snow Wolf Tribe had enough food. Their treatment was reflected in portion size and the degree of cooking. Other members needed to roast meat themselves, while theirs would be roasted in advance by everyone. Once they returned to the tribe, they could eat immediately without anxiously waiting.
The gathering team had returned earlier and was already eating. After the hunting party members received their food, they gathered in twos and threes, eating while chatting.
Lang Yu sat beside Lang Shuo and watched Lang Shuo play with the cubs, then looked around.
Several young snow wolves who wanted to find an opportunity to approach retreated a few steps and silently left this area. The chief was here, so it was best to stay farther away. If they failed to read the situation, what awaited them in a while would not only be a threatening gaze.
Only the sub-adult black wolves were completely unaware. They worked for a while, then came over once. After being driven away, they found another excuse to rub over again. It was not that they were slacking off. They had not seen the sub-adult snow wolves for more than two months and missed them somewhat, not to mention Lang Shuo, who had always made them delicious food.
Lang Yu quickly finished eating, put down his bowl and chopsticks, and said, “Finished working? I’ll send you back.”
The sub-adult black wolves, who felt they had only just arrived, heard this terrible news and wished they could become deaf on the spot. That way, they would not hear this sentence.
“What, you don’t want to go back?” Lang Yu asked.
The sub-adult black wolves nodded. Of course they did not want to go back. They had finally managed to come out, and they were in the Snow Wolf Tribe. Who would want to go back and gnaw on dry roasted meat?
In fact, it was not that they had not learned the Snow Wolf Tribe’s cooking methods. After all, they had stayed in the Snow Wolf Tribe for quite a long time, almost every day during that period. But the final result was similar to the first time they stewed potatoes. They always felt the steps were about the same, but the final taste was worlds apart.
Over these two months, the only food they had successfully replicated was pumpkin soup. That was because the ingredients were simple and the operation was not difficult. Remove the pumpkin seeds, cut the pumpkin into pieces, and put it into water. Even then, the taste often ended up wrong because they added too much salt, causing them to drink water frantically afterward.
Compared with life in their own tribe, this side was practically paradise. Even doing nothing in the Snow Wolf Tribe was very blissful. They could always smell the fragrance of delicious food, and when it was time to eat, their happiness doubled.
And yet such a beautiful life was so brief. The sub-adults naturally did not want to leave.
Only after nodding did the sub-adults react. Lang Yu was this easy to talk to today?
Lang Yong probed, “We really don’t have to go back?”
Lang Yu’s tone was gentle. “That’s right. But your tribe’s chief has to agree to this. Go back today and tell Lang Yan. As long as he agrees, you can stay however long you want in the future.”
Hearing this, Lang Shuo turned to look at his brother.
Even though his memories still had not fully recovered, Lang Shuo knew that if the sub-adults really went back and said this, they would inevitably get beaten.
Lang Yu met his younger brother’s gaze and asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”
Lang Shuo shook his head. “Nothing.”
He was probably overthinking it. Although Lang Yu was a little strict, he had never tricked anyone. This should be sincere advice. After all, without the chief’s permission, even if the sub-adults wanted to stay here, it would be impossible.
It was just that he kept feeling this suggestion revealed something unreasonable beneath its reasonableness.
The sub-adults did not care about this. One had to know, in the past, once it was time, Lang Yu would chase them away. Today was the only time he loosened his mouth and agreed to let them stay!
If they did not seize such a good opportunity properly, there would be no next time.
Thinking of this, the sub-adults gathered together and chattered among themselves for a while, then said goodbye to Lang Shuo. “Shuo, we’ll go back and tell the chief!”
After saying this, they resolutely called everyone to gather and returned to the tribe.
Lang Shuo still felt something was off, until Lang Yu sent several members to escort them away.
Lang Shuo said, “If they’re only telling the chief, there’s no need for all of them to go back, right?”
If it was only delivering a message, having everyone return and come back again would be too much trouble. The best method would be to send a few with good direction sense, saving time and effort.
Lang Yu watched the group of wolves leave, in quite a good mood. “Maybe they’re more united.”
Lang Shuo: “…”
He felt his brother had the potential to become a smiling tiger!
…
“Oh? You plan to live in the Snow Wolf Tribe and not return?”
The sub-adults did not return to the Black Wolf Tribe until midnight. As soon as they reached the tribe, they told Lang Yan their idea.
After listening, Lang Yan’s expression did not change much. He only asked indifferently.
The sub-adults nodded, then shook their heads.
Lang Yong said, “We’ll come back to hunt during the day, then go back at night.”
The Snow Wolf Tribe’s territory was small, and there were few prey inside. There had previously been some birds, but they had all been caught by them. If they kept hunting over there, over time, the prey would all run off. Their tribe’s territory was large and did not fear being chased empty, so hunting would still be done in their territory.
“I see…”
Lang Yan’s gaze swept over the faces of the sub-adults one by one, taking all their expectations into his eyes. Under the sub-adults’ uneasy gazes, he spoke again. “Go back to your caves and tell your parents. Make sure to call all your parents, older brothers, and older sisters together before saying it. Remember to explain clearly.”
The sub-adults did not react at once. Did the chief’s words mean he agreed?
The surprise came too suddenly, causing the sub-adults to ignore Lang Yan’s expression.
Thus, the sub-adults who happily went to report the good news to their parents soon discovered that what awaited them was a mixed beating from their parents, older brothers, and older sisters.
The few sub-adults with no relatives had originally been waiting here for their companions to return. Hearing the screams outside one after another, they could not help hiding in the corner.
Lang Yan looked at the remaining sub-adults beside him. Generally speaking, young wolves without parents were relatively quiet and reserved. These few were like that, more obedient than the other sub-adults. Although they had followed along on this trip back and forth, they had not joined in the uproar.
“I won’t punish you. Go rest,” Lang Yan said, letting the young wolves return.
The few sub-adults were instantly pleasantly surprised and immediately left the cave. Having escaped disaster, they ran very far before letting out a breath of relief.
The other sub-adults were still being beaten.
Because they had gathered all the members in their families who were older than themselves, the beating this time was especially long. It lasted all the way until the sky was almost bright before the tribe finally quieted down.
After waking up and removing the animal hide, Lang Yan could not help touching his ears.
Mm, his ears were fine. The tribe had really quieted down.
What a rare piece of good news.
The even better news was that he was hunting today and did not need to stay in the tribe and endure all kinds of torment.
Hunting was truly good. He liked hunting. If only he could hunt every day.
…
At the Snow Wolf Tribe, Lang Shuo woke early and prepared breakfast. The sub-adults sensibly divided the food properly.
At night, the members staying in the tribe ate first. In the morning, it was the opposite. The hunting party and gathering team ate first to avoid delaying time, since they had to go out to look for food.
The two teams set off with their extra food for noon, and only then did the remaining members begin eating.
After eating, Lang Shuo went to feed the cubs while arranging work for the sub-adults. “Today, go to the potato field and pull the weeds.”
There was still a lot of clay left from yesterday, enough to use. The charcoal inside the kiln cave could be slowly moved by the children in the tribe. This year’s planting area was outside everyone’s activity range. Even with members patrolling, Lang Shuo was not reassured letting the too-young wolves go over. Having the sub-adults go was more suitable.
Once the sub-adults’ work was arranged, the remaining work was also easier to distribute. The work staying in the tribe mainly included weaving, making tools, processing prey, and preparing food. Now, making pottery had been newly added, and they only needed to adjust a few members.
Yesterday’s arrangement had been reasonable. Lang Shuo thought for a moment and asked Lang Yun, “Same as yesterday?”
Lang Yun said, “Zhao is resting today. If there aren’t enough people, add two more.”
Lang Shuo froze. “Is he feeling unwell?”
Lang Zhao was one of the members who had followed him in making pottery yesterday. He was one of the young wolves who usually stayed in the tribe. He learned weaving and making pottery very quickly, but his body was not very good, and he could not do many kinds of work.
“Mm. Sitting too long made him uncomfortable. He’ll rest for two days,” Lang Yun explained.
“Then two people from the weaving group can come over.” Lang Zhao was patient. Whether weaving tools or making pottery, he was quick and good. With one fewer person, they needed to add two people to keep up with yesterday’s speed.
After arranging today’s work, Lang Shuo returned to the cave to check on Lang Zhao. He had originally wanted to ask where he felt uncomfortable and see if he could help, but when he went in, he saw that the person was already asleep. He helped cover him with animal hide and left the cave again. He would ask after the person woke.
Walking outside the cave, Lang Shuo began sorting the food the gathering team had brought back yesterday.
The gathering team had previously picked medicinal herbs for the priest. Recently, whenever they saw something usable, they brought it back too. Medicinal herbs were precious. Even if their own tribe could not use them, they could exchange them with tribes that had priests.
When Lang Shuo saw those medicinal herbs, he actually remembered quite a few fragmented memories. In addition, in his previous life, when he was young, there had been a barefoot doctor in the village who collected wild medicinal herbs. He had helped that person before. After seeing these, he simply tried handling them himself.
In this life, when he was young, he had spent plenty of time with the old priest. The old priest was old, and no matter what he did, he liked to mutter explanations. At that time, Lang Shuo had been immersed in his own world. Now, when he recalled it, he discovered that many were Beast World versions of medicinal prescriptions.
The medicine the old priest made was indeed unpleasant, but its effects were really good. As Lang Shuo sorted the herbs, he also recalled several common prescriptions, those for treating diarrhea and other illnesses, as well as external injuries like cuts and bites.
When he recalled one of the prescriptions, Lang Shuo suddenly paused.
Fruits and leafy vegetables were foods beastmen had to eat, but every year, there would always be a few young beastmen who refused to believe it and stubbornly refused to eat leafy vegetables and fruit. In the end, various problems would appear, such as blisters in the mouth and bleeding gums.
For this, the old priest had separately researched a formula. The effect was very good, but the taste was the hardest to drink of all medicines. It was said to be dozens of times harder to drink than the one he had tasted before.
Lang Shuo still remembered Lang Nuo and the others’ description. Sour, spicy, and bitter were all present.
He had not thought about it carefully before, but now that he recalled the medicine’s formula, Lang Shuo suddenly understood the source of the flavor.
The sourness came from two plants. One was a fruit similar to a lemon, which basically no one ate from the tree. The other was tomato. The spiciness came from a kind of chili pepper, whose heat soared after ripening and turning red. The sources of bitterness were abundant. Basically, as long as something was edible and could be added together without killing anyone, it was added once.
These, plus common fruits, were all mashed and placed in a pot to boil. The resulting taste could truly be described as a mixture of all flavors. Because the sourness, spiciness, and bitterness were too obvious, the little sweetness carried by some fruits was directly covered.
Lang Shuo was quiet for a moment. No wonder everyone said it was unpleasant to drink, but the medicinal effect was good. With such a chaotic stew, who knew how many vitamins it could replenish? It was completely normal for the medicine to cure the illness immediately.
Now that the tribe had changed how they prepared leafy vegetables, everyone was no longer as resistant as before. Lang Shuo felt that this prescription could temporarily be sealed away. However, several plants inside could continue being picked and brought back as seasonings.
Thinking this, Lang Shuo sorted the usable medicinal herbs. Those that needed washing were washed, and those that needed drying were dried.
There were quite a lot of medicinal herbs, and he busied himself for most of the morning before finishing. Lang Shuo washed his hands and went to check the clay blanks. If cracks appeared, they had to be repaired or remade in time. Otherwise, even if they were fired, they could not be used.
At noon, Lang Shuo looked into the cave again and discovered that Lang Zhao still had not woken. Somewhat worried, he came out and asked Lang Yun, “Yun, what illness does Zhao have exactly?”
Lang Yun was even more confused than him. “He isn’t sick.”
Lang Shuo was puzzled. “Didn’t you say he was uncomfortable?”
Lang Yun nodded. “Yes, he is a little uncomfortable, but he isn’t sick. It’s probably the cub making trouble.”
Lang Shuo: “???”
Wait, what did you say was making trouble?
